Te Hika A Papauma the Whare Tipuna situated at Aohanga was built in 1905 by a European builder Tom Ross with funds provided by the principal chief of the day of the hapu Te Hika A Papauma Hami Potangaroa. This house still stands today testament to the ihi Te wehi, Te mana of those to who hold the name Papauma dear. Atop the tekoteko who still stands proud is Tamateapokaiwhenuapokaiurihaea the father of our synonymous tribal tupuna Kahungunu. The centenary was celebrated in 2005 by family from afar afield as Auckland and Wellington. Also commemorating this event was the raising of the marae flag and Potangaroa matakite flag.
Mataikona the Whare Tipuna situated at Mataikona in former times was called Te Poho O Te Rangihirawea. It was constructed in 1869 by Paora Potangaroa for the last Ngati Kahungunu Whare Wananga by the celebrated tohunga Te Matorohanga and Nepia Pohuhu both whom had close kinship ties to Te Hika A Papauma. The most noted student to come out of this ancient store house of learning was Tipene Matua, of Ngati Kere of Porangahau. What is significant of this Whare Wananga is that the students where allowed to write the history and lore of our tribe Ngati Kahungunu. These books exist today and are held by those families to whom the responsibility lies in upholding the respective history, tikanga, and whakapapa of our tribe. Sadly the Marae was burnt down in the 1950’s by a disgruntle farm worker.
Whakataki the Wharenui at Whakataki was called Matira the name refers to what we know as today as Castle Rock. This is translated as (“pointing upwards and or a lookout point”) thus in former times Castle Rock (“Matira”) was used as a lookout point to see approaching canoes or war parties from the South. Sadly the Wharenui was burnt down in the 1980’s and the only part of the whare that did not perish was the tekoteko whose name is Whareaute. All families who claim to be a descendant of this marae are descendants of Whareaute. After the fire local Maori of the day presented the tekoteko to the Whakataki Hotel, for safe keeping until such time as a new meeting house is built. In former times the families from inland Wairarapa namely Ngati Hamua would come to Matira and used it as a Kainga in which to harvest all types of Kaimoana in preparation for the winter months. This was a long standing agreement between both hapu Te Hika A Papauma and Hamua in regards to in the sharing of the relative resource. Hamua having the rights to and Papauma maintain mana whenua, mana moana.
Taueru this marae was known as Mohio O Te Atua which was two buildings, one a meeting house and the other a whare karakia of the church known as The Seven rules of Jehovah. The three original owners named on the title where Taiawhio Te Tau, a leading rangatira of his hapu Ngai Tumapuhia Rangi and the head of the church. The other two owners were his cousin Hami Potangaroa principal chief of Te Hika A Papauma and his son Hamuera Potangaroa. All that survives today is the tekoteko in which it is housed at Ara Toi in Masterton and a photo of the Marae in a poor state before demolition in the mid 1960’s.
